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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- fedexdcourier@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Grace Lapira" <www.@themis.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Grace Lapira" <fedexdcourier@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2018 17:42:33 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION; YOUR ATM PACKAGE
ATTENTION; YOUR ATM PACKAGE
I wish to let you know that your ATM card package of US$4.7 Million Dollars
have been registered with FedEx Delivery Service this morning with
Registration Code No XGT442 which is your over due inheritance payment for
all the scam victims. We agreed that the delivery of your ATM Card will
commence tomorrow morning. So kindly contact them with your full
information such as,
Full Name:
Sex:
Marital Status:
Occupation:
Home Address:
City:
Country:
Phone Number:
Contact person: Mr Frank Noel
Email: fedexdcourier@gmail.com
Indicate the registration Code No XGT442 when you are contacting them to
prove that you are the right beneficiary of the ATM card deposited in their
custody.
Be informed that you are going to send them delivery fee of $259 which we
agreed before your ATM card package will be dispatched. Tracking number of
your package will be sent to you as soon as delivery of your package
commenced.
Regards
Mrs. Grace Lapira
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Anti-fraud resources:
